Chapter Two
"Tied up!"
Daryl held the kid's chest down as instructed, by Hershel having Rick hold down his good leg, Dog and Glenn holding down his arms, the kid opened his eyes, looked around and nearly pissed himself. Hershel leaned over the bed. "Son I need to set your leg right, you'll have to relax, no one will hurt you, not while I'm here, this is gonna hurt, just, try to relax." The old man made his way back to the kid's bad leg, "before I do any of this, and you pass out from the pain for only God knows how long, could you tell me your name?" The kid looked around at them nervously.
"Ra-Randall." The kid clinched his teeth fighting off what ever pain which might be causing him. The boy wanted to scream, he wanted to cry, he wanted them just to shoot him and get it over with. He too wasn't happy with the mistake that he and those 'other guys' made last night. Rick stared down at the boy for quite a awhile as Hershel spoke to T-Dog about getting a needle and some thread.
"On three. One…two…thr-"
"Stop!" Rick grabbed Hershel's arm. "Will you be able to save him?" Rick was worried about Randall, he didn't want to loose the boy, he wanted him alive safe. Everyone went quiet for a minute, all there was of noise was Randall's nervous breathing. Hershel moved his eyes on Randall, and sighed deeply.
"Depends on the surgery." Hershel told Rick. "Depends on the blood loss."
"I need an answer." Rick asked sternly.
"Maybe." Hershel whispered so Randall wouldn't freak out.
"What?" Randall asked. "will I?" Randall was trying to hold back his tears of fear. Everyone's grip loosened on Randall's limbs that they were suppose to hold down. Hershel used a match's flame to sterilize the needle, just the size and sharp point made Randall squirm. "No." He mumbled. Rick grabbed him by the shoulders to keep him in place at the moment.
"Okay. Son, I need you to relax and try not to move as much." Hershel leaned in towards Daryl. "Actually loop your arm around his chest, he'll jerk, he's pretty strong." Daryl nodded and got on one knee, leveling himself with Randall's shoulders. Daryl slowly curled his arm around Randall's neck, and held him in place. "Not to tight, or he might hurt his neck." Hershel tied the thread through the hole of the needle.
"Oh…god." Rick sighed. Hershel grabbed a hold of Randall's bad leg and gripped it. Randall was thrashing around and squirming. He dug his fingers into the sides of the table, practically making his fingers bleed under the nails.
Hershel twisted Randall's leg, you could hear his bone move! Randall let out a painful, horrid scream from the pain that Hershel was causing him. Next you knew, Randall's head fell to one side and his eyes closed shut. His fingers froze, and so did the squirming. Everyone let go and looked at Hershel.
"He dead?" Daryl asked. Rick's nerves jumped, he quickly rested his head on Randall's chest and listened. Daryl grew impatient. "Well?"
"I can't hear anything." Rick told Hershel. "Was that suppose to happen that quickly?" Rick asked Hershel.
"No. No, not until put the medicine in him to dope him up." Hershel didn't know what to do! Rick was sick to his stomach. Rick started pushing on the kid's chest. Hershel placed the heartbeat thing on Randall's chest. "There's a heart beat, but it's faint. Let's just finish the surgery." Hershel did what he insisted on doing. After he was finished he slipped the needle through the boy's leg flesh and out the other side. After sewing up the wound he snapped the remaining thread off. He then used a towel to clean up the blood from the boy's leg. Rick stood there watching, thinking, and hoping the boy would live.
"He's gaining movement." Patricia said. Rick watched the boy's fingers twitch, "He might just wake soon." Patricia said to Hershel.
"We'll keep him in the shed." Is that the best idea? Rick thought to himself. "You brought him here, you'll have decide his destiny." Hershel said to Rick. The old guy turned and started for the door, but Rick stopped him.
"Can't we…keep him rested in a bed?" Rick asked, Hershel shook his head.
"Did you forget 'bout what he pulled?" Rick looked back down at his shoes, "put him in the shed." Hershel squeezed between Rick and Lori that was coming in. She looked over at Randall, then at Rick.
"Who's that?" She whispered.
"Randall." Rick told her, she just stared and stared.
"Was he…uh, bit?" Lori asked Rick, he shook his head. "Then what's all that blood?"
"He was impaled." Rick explained to her.
"Everyone is waiting for information." Rick accepted it and went past her. He and her went into the dining room where everyone was waiting.
"So, what happened?" Shane asked Rick.
"Just a problem that was fixed." Rick reassured everyone.
"Problem? He shot at you three! And you just fixed it?" Shane chuckled rudely.
"Is he gonna die?" Carol asked Hershel. Hershel looked to Rick, who just stayed quiet.
"No. He's okay." Hershel told everyone.
"How are you so sure?" Glenn asked Hershel. "He bled out a lot. He was white as hell, and he's gonna live?" Glenn was hazed with questions.
"There were five guys, you shot and killed three of them, and took the other one hostage, and they ain't gonna come looking for him?" Shane grinned, standing in his usual position leaned against the wall.
"They left him, hurt and afraid, in the cold. Their not coming for him." Rick strongly believed Randall was a good person, and his mistake could be over looked easily.
"He isn't a lost dog." Shane laughed out loud. No one looked amused by his words. "It's just another mouth to feed."
"Shane, he's just a kid, he didn't know better. He was scared." Rick tried telling Shane.
"I'm gonna get him some chocolates and roses!" Shane smirked and walked past everyone, "Look at this folks, we're back in fantasy land!"
"Excuse me." Hershel stopped Shane. "I wanted you off this farm, but Rick talked me out of it. This is my farm, my rules, and my patients. Lemme give you advice, keep your mouth shut or get off my land." Hershel didn't break once, he straightly told Shane the truth and how everything was going to be.
"Look, we're not gonna do anything right now. Let's all relax." Rick told everyone.
"Git ya dumb ass out of my chair!" Daryl yelled at Erica. She just sat there smiling at him, he grunted at her. "Want me to shoot ya?" He threatened.
"Oh! Mister slayer, save me from this sizzling heat!" Erica joked as she hung upside down in his chair. "It's cooking my squrriels." She chuckled.
"Git." He pointed his finger behind him.
"Ugh…fine. You're no fun." She got up and sat in the other chair. She's is the only person he knows that wears tank tops with a flannel over it that's ripped at the sleave, blue Levi jeans and cowboy boots. "What's the news with that boy?" She asked him, he shrugged as he sharpened his knife.
"Got himself impaled, someth'n like that." Daryl discussed. Erica was interested, she was only seventeen so everything was interesting to her.
"Were they keeping the kid?" She asked.
"Erica! Stay away from him, we don't know anything 'bout him." Daryl told her.
"Fine." She turned and trotted off towards the farm house. "I'm just gonna have to find out my self." She whispered to her self with an evil grin.
Rick slowly walked up to the shed, T-Dog was locking the wooden door up. "How is he?" Rick asked T-Dog.
"Confused, and in pain." T-Dog told Rick. "Any idea 'bout the kid?"
"No, not at all." Rick sighed, T-Dog scratched his bald head. "I'm gonna think 'bout it."
"You should. Rick, think carefully." T-Dog chuckled, he walked off in the other direction. Rick stood before the door.
"So…you stuck?" Rick turned around, Erica was walking towards him. "What's his name?" She asked him as she walked up to the door and peeked through a crack.
"You could say that." Rick thought a bit. "Randall." He answered her question.
"Randall?" She asked him, he nodded. "Hmm. I'm curious, is his leg okay?" Erica asked another, almost irritating Rick.
"Yeah." Rick told Erica. "When he's stable, I'm taking him out and leaving somewhere." Erica sensed the care Rick had for Randall.
"You care for him." She told him. He knew he did, but he brushed it off because the group couldn't know it. "Rick, keep him here. Maybe I could use him for something." Erica put her hands in her pockets and walked around Rick with her head up.
"Like what?" Rick rested his hand on his python. He wasn't sure about what she was saying, and since she was part of the Dixon montage, he didn't really trust her. Erica had a mix of Daryl and Merle in her, part of her is a loose cannon with no remorse for the living, and the other side is someone who can get into your head. The thing is, she was actually different.
"That…I don't know." She sighed, rolling her head. "But, if I were you, I'd keep an eye on your buddy." Erica's eyes spotted Shane, he was walking in a alarming way. Shane rubbed his head, even he has no hair on his head. There's gotta be something wrong with that guy. "Have fun." Erica turned and walked in the other direction. Rick stood there watching her for a minute.
"Erica, where you going?" Rick called out to her, she stopped and looked at him.
"Going out." she told him. "I have to get some things, personal." She explained to him. Rick nodded to her. Erica had a beatific look on her face, that was the first time she had a expression like that.
"So what ya gonna do?" Shane asked Rick, Rick shrugged. "I think you're have the wrong idea on this Rick." Shane had a shamed-face. Rick saw that Shane wasn't agreeing with him again on this decision.
"We're gonna take him out and leave him." Rick started away from Shane. But, Shane launched his hand out to Rick.
"You really believe letting this shit somewhere is making everything okay?" Shane had a second opinnion on this, one that Rick did not like.
"At least he's alive, and away from the group." Rick replied with a promising voice. Shane remained still as Rick strutted away from him.
"I really think you're wrong 'bout this. Really do." Shane uttered harshly to Rick, he left in the other direction. Rick didn't know what to do! He saw the hurt and how those men abandoned Randall last night. Just the words Randall yelled to Rick before they were going to leave him shattered Rick emotionally. He doesn't want to leave Randall behind either. Yeah, he might've done something wrong, but it was a mistake, he's a kid he didn't know better. If it was just Rick, Carl, and Lori, he'd keep Randall with them. But, he's taking care of a whole clan of scared people, so it's up to them not him.
Rick looked back at the shed, hoping his decision wasn't to kill him. This had to be the hardest decision Rick has ever been entitled to think about.
Rick went back to his tent, there Lori and Carl were talking. Carl smiled at his father, as Rick ran his fingers through the young boy's hair. Carl's little smile and crystal clear eyes put a smile on Rick's face. "What are you gonna do?" Lori asked Rick.
"Tomorrow, Shane and I are gonna take him out and leave him." Rick explained to his wife. His eye was caught when he noticed her expression. "Do you have something else to say?" Rick asked her.
"No." Lori shook her head. Rick nodded to her and gave her a peck on the cheek. The words are rolling on her tongue, their like little needles poking at her to tell him about her and Shane, but she couldn't hurt him. Rick sat on the cot and lied back on the pillow. Lori sat down next to Carl and stared out side.
Andrea had spotted seen Erica heading toward the RV, where she was taking watch from. Erica ignored Andrea and walked right up to Glenn who was standing in front of the RV. "Hey, Erica." He wasn't unsure if she had come to punch him in the face. "You're not gonna hurt me right?" Glenn flinched a little.
"Nah. Why'd ya be think'n like that?" She asked him. Glenn shrugged with the wrench in his hand. "Anyways, what's up with that Randall kid?" Erica wasn't getting any
information out of anyone about that Randy kid.
"Nothing, just a bunch of crap 'bout leaving him somewhere." Glenn turned back to his tool box.
"What's he look like?" Erica asked Glenn, leaning back against the RV front, with a curious smile on her pretty little face. Glenn stopped and looked at her. "What? I git lonely now and then." She laughed.
"Ugly, puney, and annoying. Zits everywhere. He'd kill any walker by just his damn looks." Glenn told Erica, he watched her girly smile minimize into a disturbed grin.
"Seriously?" She asked down casting her eyes.
"Seriously. The well walker was prettier that Randall." Glenn turned his back to Erica.
"Well, you didn't say he looked like a monkey." Erica slapped Glenn's back hard, he flew against the rim of the RV.
"Ouch!" Glenn said out loud to her, she turned and strutted off.
"Don't hurt ya self, Andrea." Erica said. Andrea looked down, noticing that her sniper was pointing upward at her face, even though her finger was on the trigger. Andrea rolled her eyes and sighed frustratingly.
"Bitch." Andrea uttered the words under her breathe. Erica stuck her middle finger up at her as she walked away from the blonde idiot perched up on the RV. "Well, screw you!" Andrea yelled to Erica. "Haha." Andrea laughed to herself. She then was bothered by the gun, so she tossed it off to the side.
It was the day after, early in the morning, right about when the sun was rising just above the mountains off to the East. Rick was clearing out the back of the SUV to fit Randall in. Shane and him were going to drive Randall out to the Middle School parking lot, and leave him there. And maybe scavenge for some supplies to bring back. Rick pushed the two gasoline cases against the seat to make room for Randall's legs. He then walked back to the shed. Rick put in the combination to the lock. 20-14-10. The master lock loosened and gained access to the shed. Rick opened the door and went inside. There he stopped, looking down at Randall who was a sleep on a pile of coats. Rick new that the kid must've had a hard time trying to get comfortable. Randall's arms were hand cuffed behind his back, and his leg had just gotten surgery. Even though it was the day after, they needed him gone.
Rick ignored his guilty feelings and roughly grabbed Randall's arms. Randall was waking up quickly as Rick shoved the kid forward to take the chains that were linked to the cuffs off. After lying the heavy, rusted links behind Randall, Rick slipped a beenie over Randall's head. Rick un cuffed Randall, and replaced the metal hoops with rope. He tied the rope tightly around Randall's wrists. Then lifted him up off the ground, and helped him limp to the SUV. There he lied him in the back bed of the vehicle, and tied his legs together.
Finally, that was over with. Rick and Shane got in the vehicle and started off the land. It had felt like hours of driving. They had stopped and had a conversation, but then got back in and drove off again. The heat was stacking up on the two of them. Hell, Randall's got to be dying of thirst back there. Rick looked at Shane. "Maybe we should get him something to drink." Rick suggested.
"Rick, ya can't let him git to ya." Shane told Rick. Rick looked away, he just stared out forward.
"He's still human." Rick muttered. Shane just scanned Rick up and down, thinking about how much this guy is looney. Shane can't understand why Rick is caving in because of some kid that they picked up. After, driving past fields of grass, they had finally reached a town. Rick was happy to find the Middle School, his leg and hand had gone to sleep. He turned the vehicle into the parking lot of the school. But, he was satisfied with the area they were going to leave Randall at, Rick wanted a more closed off area so Randall can get out safely. Rick took the key out of the ignition and got out. "I'm taking him into the court yard." Rick told Shane who just stared at him with his jaw hanging down. Rick opened the back door of the vehicle and grabbed a grip of Randall. Shane came over and helped, he took the left arm, Rick took a hold of the other side.
The two men pushed Randall into the School yard. Shane and Rick pushed Randall onto his knees. Then took the blind fold off of his head. Then ripped the duct tape off of his mouth. Randall took a good wif of fresh air. Rick and Shane started walking away from Randall.
"No…hey!" Randall yelled to them. "C'mon! I owe ya guys. I can protect what got!" Randall yelled to them, trying to get them not to leave him alone. "I'm just one guy! That's why I with 'em guys, I was alone! One guy can't take on those things alone." Randall was trying everything in his power to get Rick and Shane to take him back with them, but Shane was keeping that from happening. "Please! Don't leave!" Rick stopped again. Shane took a hold of Rick's arm and pulled him to walk again. Rick took his knife out and tossed to the black top. "I know Maggie for god's sake!" Randall yelled again. Just that alone froze Rick and Shane. They both looked at each other, then at Randall. He knew that worked, "I-I rolled the bench of Barsley Baseball, uh…" He was trying to think.
"You know Maggie?" Rick pushed past Shane with the question.
"Rick, don't." Shane groaned. Rick walked up and stopped.
"She didn't know me. She didn't even know I existed. I never talked to her, I just helped her dad around their farm." Randall explained. Rick stood there looking at Randall, part of him knows that he's one of them.
"He knows where the farm is at. Take the shot." Shane turned his back on Randall and spoke to Rick. "Or I will."
"He's one of us." Rick said to Shane. Shane then looked darkly at Rick. Shane took his gun out from his belt loop and spun around to shoot Randall. "SHANE! NO!" Rick pushed Shane down right when he pulled the trigger. The bullet sparked out, piercing the ground beside Randall's shoulder.
"Shit!" Randall yelled as he tipped him self over onto his back.
"I will not let you kill him!" Rick growled through his teeth at Shane. Shane got up and wiped off his pants.
"I don't think you can protect them." Shane mumbled. Rick looked at his friend in fury. Rick then threw a punch at Shane. That's when a whole fight broke out. While they were distracted, Randall found it the perfect moment it to escape, but first he needs the knife. He rolled onto his side and crawled to the knife. When he got to it, he had to grab from behind him and saw the ropes that binded his legs together off. His leg had started hurting him again, but getting free was more important than his leg. Finally, the ropes came a part, he slipped his hands under his feet. Then jumped up and started limping away towards the school.
Shane fired three shots accidently at the window behind Rick. They both stood there watching it, noticing something moving in front of it. "Oh my god." Rick muttered to himself, as he saw Randall limp into the school. "Shane." Rick pointed. Shane looked and sighed deeply. "C'mon1!" the two of them ran to the building. Randall was already going up the stairs. The building was huge! Randall could hear the two men running up the stairs after him, at least he had already turned a corner, but that didn't even loose 'em!
"Oh…man." Randall muttered. His heart pounded as he hurried along the lockers. He came to a stop when he heard a woman screaming 'Stop!' he leaned over the stairs. There was another woman running with her wrists cuffed. Some guy, Hispanic, tackled her to the ground. He was fighting her.
"Rick!" Randall looked down the hallway and saw the shadows of Shane and Rick. Randall knew he had to do something to help the girl.
"Shit." Randall whistled to Rick and Shane. Then turned and ran down the steps. Stunned as he saw a herd of walkers shuffle towards the girl and guy who fought each other. The guy looked up and started running in Randall's direction. The girl was screaming, due to the idea of being ripped apart. Randall limped towards her, but then a walker was crawling on top of her legs. She was trying to kick him off, but Randall noticed her ankle was broken. Randall reached out for her hand cuffs, when he gripped the links in the middle of the loops, he then dragged her away from the Walker that almost killed her. Randall dragged the girl by the cuffs into a bathroom. Then closed the door, securing with a metal pipe. Randall turned to the girl and put his finger to his lips. "Don't scream. There's two guys that wanna kill me." He whispered to her. She nodded to his understanding. "Thanks." Randall got up and went to the second door. It flew open and Rick grabbed Randall, slamming him face first in the wall. "I didn't do nuth'n!" Randall said to Rick.
"Right." Rick looked over and saw the girl pressed against the wall. "What'd you do?" Rick asked Randall, tightening his grip on his neck.
"Nothing! I swear it. I had saved her." Randall explained honestly to the two of them. Rick looked back at the girl who looked even more afraid. "Look man. I'm not gonna tell anyone nuth'n." Randall promised.
"Shut up." Rick turned him back around and slammed him against the wall. "Is there a way out?" Rick asked Shane.
"Not one that I see." Shane tried breaking the window, but it was like marble, it just chipped.
"Look. I saw an opening down the hall." Randall tried explaining, but Shane turned and punched Randall in the cheek, sending him to the ground. Rick then stepped in.
"Stop!" Rick yelled. "He doesn't deserve this right now." Rick pushed Shane away. "Let's go. Shane you'll carry the girl, and I'll take him." Shane picked the girl up off the ground, and went out first. Rick held Randall tightly by the arm.
"What were you thinking, running off?" Rick whispered to Randall. Randall looked at Rick confused.
"You were setting me free, remember? I just ran cause I was afraid of your friend." Randall admitted to Rick. Rick and him got outside the school, but stopped Randall.
"Shut up." Rick snapped at him.
"C'mon, let me go, man, I ain't tell'n anyone anything." Randall begged again, Rick grabbed him by the arm and yanked him forward.
"Rick, the truck is right there." Shane said to Rick as he held the girl in his arms.
"Get her in it." Rick ordered Shane. The man turned and marched back to the vehicle. "Let's go." Rick grabbed Randall's shoulder and dragged him to the truck, shoving him into it. Rick got in and drove off.